Apparatus for stopping tapping-holes of furnaces



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

-- ..S. W. VAUGHEN.

APPARATUS FOR STOPPING TAPPING HOLES 0F FURNACES.

WITNESSES.

INVENTOH /W 2 M A; ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet S. W. VAUGHEN.- APPARATUS FO STOPPINGTAPPING HOLES OF FURNACES.

No 544,551. Patented Aug. 13,1895.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR- 6. v H 5 BY g ATTORNEY.

Unrrnn STATE SAMUEL W. VAUGHEN, OF COOPERSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR STOPPING TAPPING-HOLES OF FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,551, dated August13, 1895.

Application nefl rn 12,1895.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. VAUoHEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Coopersdale, in the county of Oambria and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Stopping the Tapping-Holes of Furnaces; and I herebydeclare the following to be a' full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Metallurgical furnaces as ordinarily constructed are provided at or nearthe lower portions of their crucibles or hearths with a tapping-hole ornotch formed therein, through which metal, slag, or similar material isdrawn. This opening or tapping-hole is ordinarily rammed or stopped withrefractory material, which in some cases consists of clay or firebrick,or a mixture of the two in proper proportions. Ordinary practice intapping iron from the above-described notch or tappinghole consists indriving a bar through this clay stopping to permit the outflow of ironfrom the furnace-hearth.

Although my improved apparatus may be applied for use in connection withany metallurgical or similar furnaces in which tappingholes are used, Iwill, for the sake of simplicity in the description, refer only to itsuse in connection with the iron-notch of the blastfurnace. After theiron is tapped from the notch, as above described, it has hitherto beencustomary to plug the same by placing the stopping material in the holein small quantities at a time, and ramming the same into position bymeans of a bar operated by manual labor. In blast-furnace practice thisbar is generally of large size, and is driven against the clay stoppingby means of heavy sledges in the hands of the workmen, who, during thisoperation, are subjected to great inconvenience and danger on account oftheir proximity to the highly heated and liquid, iron or slag in theneighborhood of the tapping-hole after a cast has been made. In additionto this it is found necessary in blast-furnace practice to stop theblast in orderto allow the iron-notch to be properly plugged, for thereason that if the blast-pressure were con- Serial No. 4 ,4 (No model.)

tinned under these circumstances the iron and slag would be forcedagainst the stopping, making it impossible to compact the same properlyin the tapping-hole, besides forcing as to endanger the workmen orinterfere with the work. This necessary stoppage of the blast has aserious effect upon the regularity of operation of a blast-furnace, andcauses a diminution in its product, as may be readily understood when itis considered that from this cause a total delay of at least one hour iscaused in each day of twenty-four hours.

It is the object of my invention to provide an apparatus whereby thetapping-hole of a furnace may be stopped expeditiously and in such a wayas to avoid the delays and difiiculties above mentioned, and at the sametime secure immunity from danger to the workmen who conduct thisoperation.

My invention consists in general of a cylinder or tube in which isplaced the clay or stopping material, this clay being forcibly pushedout of the cylinder by means of apiston fitting loosely therein, thepiston being connected to a suitable source of power, whereby it may bemoved backward or for ward in said cylinder to any degree required forthis operation.

Although other means may be used, I prefer to operate the clay-piston bymeans of a fluid-pressure cylinder in which is another pistonconnectedwith the same rod which actuates the clay-piston. Thefluid-pressure cylinder is supplied at either end with the reof pipescontrolled by an ordinary four-way valve or other device suitable forthis purpose. In order to facilitate the handling of my apparatus,placing the same in position for operation and withdrawing same afterthe operation has been completed,I mount it on a swinging crane or.other suitable device, whereby it may be moved conveniently withoutunnecessary labor. In order to withstand the molten metal outward insuch a manner the reaction or thrust of the machine as the clay isdischarged from it into the tappinghole, I provide an abutment towithstand this thrust, said abutment being preferably so arranged as tobe easily removed to allow the apparatus to be placed in position foroperaquired medium for operation through a system tion and withdrawnwhen the operation is completed; but I do not confine myself to thisarrangement. In connection with this abutment I may also use anadjustable gage, which bears against the top of my stopping apparatus,which gage is so adjusted as to cause the machine to properly enter thetapping-hole previous to the actual operation of the stopping mechanism.One form of abutment which I use, and which is shown in the drawingsherewith, consists of two arms mounted on a revoluble shaft, whichlatter is carried in suitable fixed bearings, the outer end of saidshaft being provided with a lever securely fastened thereto in aposition at right angles to the axis of the shaft, and a latch soarranged and adjusted as to hold the lever firmly in its proper workingposition, and thereby maintain the aforesaid arms fixedly in a propermanner to withstand the reaction of the machine when in operation.

In order to provide a proper bearingfor the two arms above mentioued,Iprovide on each side of the cylinder of my apparatus a suitable lug orprojection against which the arms are pressed when in their workingposition. Intermediate between these arms and carried upon the sameshaft is secured a gage, which is curved at its outer portion and whoselength is adjustable. As the shaft is revolved by means of the leverbefore mentioned, the arms are brought into connection with the lugs onthe sides of the cylinder and the gage is pressed against the upper sideof the cylinder and against a projection or flange formed thereon, thusserving to hold the cylinder downward, and also to assist in pushing itforward into position for operation.

Having thus given this general description of my invention, I will nowrefer to the annexed two sheets of drawings, which form part of thisspecification, and in which like letters refer to like parts.

Figure 1 is a general side elevation of my machine, showing thetapping-hole and runner of a blast-furnace in vertical section. Fig. 2is a central vertical section of the principal working portions of mymachine. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the forward portion of my machinein position for operation, the rear part and supporting mechanism beingomitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 4: is a cross-section of anordinary four-way valve which is used to control the fiow of fluid toand from the working-cylinder of themachine. Fig. 5 is a view of theforward end of my machine, showing one form of nozzle turned intoposition to allow the clay-cylinder to be charged with the stoppingmaterial.

In the different figures, A is the main claycylinder; B, theworking-cylinder, and C is one form of nozzle. Although this form ofnozzle is shown as of tapering form, I do not limit myself to thisparticular shape, as it may be made cylindrical or otherwise.

Noz-

zle O is secured to the main clay-cylinder by the bolts h it, upon oneof which the nozzle may be revolved, the slotted holet in thenozzle-flange allowing this motion.

It is not essential that the nozzle-section be made separate from thebody of the clay-cylinder; but I prefer this construction, as it allowsthe nozzle portion, which is subjected to the greatest wear anddestructive action of heat, to beeasily and cheaply renewed.

A is a clay-piston which may be moved backward or forward in thecylinder A by the movement of the piston-rod a", which works through thegland g, at the other end of which rod is secured the piston B, whichworks in the fluid-pressure cylinder B. i

D is a yoke connecting the clay'cylinder A with the fluid-pressurecylinder B by means of the bolts 1) b and c 0, while E is the backcylinder-head of the fluid-pressurecylinder l3 and secured to the sameby bolts a a.

II and H are supply-pipes connected with --the front and backpiston-heads of the cylinder B, while F is a four-way valve forcontrolling the flow of fluid in said pipes, G being the hand-leverattached to the plug of said valve.

I is a supply pipe or hose connected to one of the ports of the valve F,as shown, and at the other end with a suitable supply of fluid underpressure.

.I is a chain which serves to support the outer end of my machine, asshown, being attached at one end to the hook L on the cylinder, and atthe other end to the hook 0 at the head of the swinging crane.

K is a coiled spring which serves to equalize any jar or shockoccasioned by the impact of the machine as it comes in contact with anyfixed object.

M is the main hanging rod which carries my apparatus and which issecured to the same by means of the collar d and the bolts e e. The rodM is secured to the apex of the small swinging crane, as shown, by meansof the nuts mzm, plates at n, and the bolt n.

vX is the'crane-jib; W, the main brace, and Z is an intermediate bracesecured to the rod M and the brace-rod W for the purpose of preventingan excessive swinging motion of the apparatus as the crane revolves.

Y Y are the upper and lower pintle-bearings of the crane, respectively,and ll are the upper and lower pintlebolts of the same.

R represents the column which carriesthe crane, and to which is alsoattached a bearing j, in which latter is mounted a revoluble shaft 0.

Referring toplan view, Fig. 3, the shaft 0 is broken away for the sakeofconvenience of illustration, as is also the clay-cylinder A. This shaft0 may extend to any reasonable degree, said extension being carried in asuitable bearing similar to j, or otherwise, as may be readilyunderstood.

N is a lever secured to the end of the shaft O by the set-screw y, whileS is a latch or lock secured to the column B by means of the bolts to16. j is a hearing which carries the revoluble shaft 0, said bearingbeing secured to the column B by the bolts 00 0c and also provided withthe cap-bolts '0 o.

f f is a split collar secured to the cylinder A by means of the bolts 9g and provided with projections, as shown, against which the arms N Ntake a bearing, these arms being secured to the revoluble shaft 0 bymeans of the set-screws i 2'.

P is an arm secured to the shaft 0 by means of the set-screw 11' and thekey 2'" and is promay be set in the required position and secured thereby means of the bolt 13, which passes through a slotted hole formed inthe upper portion of the arm Q, as shown in Fig.1.

T represents'the outer or iron casing of a furnace; U, the refractorylining or brickwork of the same, and V is a tapping-hole or iron-notchformed therein.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The machine is first swung onthe crane to a convenient position, whereupon the cylinder A is filledwith plastic clay or other material with which to stop the tapping-hole,the piston being withdrawn toward the rear end of the cylinder to allowthe required amount of material to be so introduced. After the furnacehas been tapped and the iron, or so much of it as is desired, has beenwithdrawn, the machine is swung quickly into working position, as shownin Figs. 1 and 3, and held there by throwing the lever M into theposition shown in full lines on the drawings referred to. At thisinstant the valve F is quickly turned, allowing the fluid under pressureto force the piston forward, thus discharging the clay contained withinthe cylinder into the tappinghole, the force and speed of this dischargebeing easily regulated by meansof the valve.

- This whole operation requires but a very few seconds, and can be soconducted as not to interfere with the regular operation of the furnace,nor does it require that the blast be shut off.

Having thus described my apparatus and its method of operation, what Iclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In apparatus for stopping the tapping a removable abutment adapted toengage with the aforesaid apparatus, to resist the reaction of the samein operation, substantially as set forth.

2. In apparatus for stopping the tapping hole of furnaces, a tubeadapted to receive clay or other refractory material, a piston or plugfitted therein, means for moving said piston withinsaid tube, incombination with an abutment adapted to engage with the aforesaidapparatus, to resist the reaction of the same in operation, and a gagebar adapted to bear on the upper portion of said tube, substantially asset forth.

3. In apparatus for stopping the tapping hole of furnaces, a tubeadapted to contain clay or other refractory material, a piston or plugfitted within said tube, means for moving said piston, in combinationwith a removable abutment, consisting of one or more being adapted tobear against the aforesaid tube, said shaft being carried in suitablefixed bearings and provided with an operating le ver and locking device,substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus for stopping the tapping hole of furnaces, a tubeadapted to contain clay or other refractory material, said tube beingprovided with one or more projections or lugs, a piston or plug, fittedwithin said tube, means for moving said piston, in combination with aremovable abutment, consisting of one or more arms secured to arevoluble shaft; said arms being adapted to bear against saidprojections, said shaft being carried in suitable fixed bearings andprovided with an operating lever, substantially as set forth.

5.'In apparatus for stopping the tapping hole of furnaces, a tubeadapted to contain clay or other refractory material, a piston or plugfitted within said tube, means for moving said piston; in combinationwith a removable gage bar curved at its lower end and adapted to bearupon the upper surface of said tube; said gage being mounted upon arevoluble shaft and provided with means for adjusting its radial length,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' SAMUEL W. VAUGHEN.

.arms secured to a revoluble shaft, said arms ICO

